ITALIAN RIDER BANNED FOR THREE YEARS FOLLOWING POSITIVE DOPING TEST

Italian rider Matteo Spreafico has been banned for three years after testing positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing substance, at last year’s Giro d’Italia, the international cycling federation (UCI) announced Tuesday. Spreafico, who was racing for the Vini Zabu team, is suspended until October 21, 2023.

The UCI said Spreafico, 28, had tested positive for Enobosarm (Ostarine), a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) in the class of anabolic agents illegally sold worldwide as a performance-enhancing substance, in two samples collected during the Giro in October 2020.

The Vini Zabu team has withdrawn from this year’s Giro which starts on Saturday as Spreafico’s ban is the second after fellow Italian Matteo De Bonis tested positive for EPO in February.

UCI STATEMENT

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Italian rider Matteo Spreafico has been sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of three years following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the presence of Enobosarm (Ostarine)[1] in two samples collected during the Giro d’Italia 2020 on 15 and 16 October 2020.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Regulations, the period of ineligibility starts on 22 October 2020 and is effective until 21 October 2023.

Mr. Spreafico has also been disqualified from all competitive results obtained at the Giro d’Italia 2020

The case has been resolved by way of an acceptance of consequences as provided for by the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Regulations.

The UCI will not comment any further.

[1] Enobosarm (Ostarine) is a Prohibited Substance listed under class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) of the Prohibited List which is maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and adopted by the UCI

 

RBA/AFP Photo: Bettini